Arbor, Abour, or maybe Abbor Day

A DigitalNZ Story by Mark Beatty

On the 3rd of July 1890, children from Greytown School, residents, and dignitaries planted 153 trees at the southern end of the town which was the first celebration of Arbor day in New Zealand. Since 1977 Arbor day has been held on the 5th of June. We should love, protect and of course plant plenty of trees when we have the chance.

arbor, arbour, Greytown, tree, trees

Image: Parade in Greytown to mark first Arbor Day

Parade in Greytown to mark first Arbor Day

Wairarapa Archive

Newspaper

ABBOR DAY. (Timaru Herald, 06 July 1892)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Invitation to Arbor Day concert

Invitation to Arbor Day concert

Wairarapa Archive

Newspaper

Wairarapa News. (Evening Post, 17 June 1890)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Arbor day at Rata School

Arbor day at Rata School

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Arbor Day, Tinui School : photograph

Arbor Day, Tinui School : photograph

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Group of boys going to plant trees at Waiwhetu for Arbor Day, Lower Hutt

Group of boys going to plant trees at Waiwhetu for Arbor Day, Lower Hutt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mrs L Jackson with Mr H Mc Gill on Arbor Day

Mrs L Jackson with Mr H Mc Gill on Arbor Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: AST ARBOR DAY HERO. City Councillor: Come down out of that, you young scoundrel! How dare V�� UU us that the trees belong to us, and when I come to take possession you bully me. (Observer, 27 July 1912)

AST ARBOR DAY HERO. City Councillor: Come down out of that, you young scoundrel! How dare V�� UU us that the trees belong to us, and when I come t...

National Library of New Zealand

Image

Minhinnick, Gordon Edward George (Sir), 1902-1992:Arbor Day. New Zealand Herald, 10 August 1950.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Children and unidentified adults, from Hataitai Kindergarten, at Arbor Day celebration, location unidentified

Children and unidentified adults, from Hataitai Kindergarten, at Arbor Day celebration, location unidentified

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: " Plant a Tree "—Arbor Day at Petone.

" Plant a Tree "—Arbor Day at Petone.

Hutt City Libraries

Image: Guides plant tree at Taitoko School's first Arbor Day

Guides plant tree at Taitoko School's first Arbor Day

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Māori girls at Auckland Arbor Day ceremony

Māori girls at Auckland Arbor Day ceremony

Auckland Libraries

Image: Taitoko School held its first Arbor Day

Taitoko School held its first Arbor Day

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Arbor Day Planting

Arbor Day Planting

Feilding Library

Image: New Zealand Forest Service: This is my tree ... I must care for it now and after Arbor Day / Issued by the New Zealand Forest Service. R E Owen, Government Printer, Wellington [1954?]

New Zealand Forest Service: This is my tree ... I must care for it now and after Arbor Day / Issued by the New Zealand Forest Service. R E Owen, Go...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dr Leonard Cockayne

Dr Leonard Cockayne

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Harris, Emily Cumming, 1837-1925: 2nd July, 1891. [Lily plant in a corner of a garden].

Harris, Emily Cumming, 1837-1925: 2nd July, 1891. [Lily plant in a corner of a garden].

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Schoolboys planting a tree for Arbour Day, Wellington

Schoolboys planting a tree for Arbour Day, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Arbour Day at the hospital

Arbour Day at the hospital

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Walter Nash and an unidentified man planting a tree on Arbour Day, location unidentified

Walter Nash and an unidentified man planting a tree on Arbour Day, location unidentified

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: ARBOUR DAY. Why Wellington doesn't celebrate Arbour Bay—much. (New Zealand Free Lance, 03 August 1907)

ARBOUR DAY. Why Wellington doesn't celebrate Arbour Bay—much. (New Zealand Free Lance, 03 August 1907)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Arbor Day tree planting, Brown Owl School, 1998

Arbor Day tree planting, Brown Owl School, 1998

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Skipping, Reporua School, Arbour Day

Skipping, Reporua School, Arbour Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio portrait of unidentified young boy in dark striped shirt and pants with light coloured tie, standing on fur rug with small palm tree pot plant on stand, Christchurch

Studio portrait of unidentified young boy in dark striped shirt and pants with light coloured tie, standing on fur rug with small palm tree pot pla...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A group planting trees on a railway embankment, featuring an unidentified man, Wellington region

A group planting trees on a railway embankment, featuring an unidentified man, Wellington region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Arbor Day

Arbor Day

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Arbor Day tree planting, Totara Park school

Arbor Day tree planting, Totara Park school

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Oak from leisure pool site transplanted to Tawai Street reserve

Oak from leisure pool site transplanted to Tawai Street reserve

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Your Place - Greytown

Your Place - Greytown

Radio New Zealand